Minnesota Twins - PlayerWatch

March 16, 2013|Reuters

RHP Kyle Gibson, 25, was optioned back to Triple-A Rochester. However, he may not be there for long.

LHP Scott Diamond (left elbow surgery in December 2012) had bone chips removed. On March 11, he threw a live batting practice session (for eight minutes) and experienced no discomfort in his elbow. He was on track for a March 18 spring training debut.

RHP Liam Hendriks, who is currently penciled in to make the Opening Day roster, had his worst outing of the spring when he gave up three home runs against the Pirates on March 10. He followed that up with a better performance against the Red Sox on March 15. He worked four innings, allowing five hits, three earned runs, no walks, one strikeout and one home run.

OF Joe Benson was struggling at the plate during spring training and losing ground in his battle to win a starting job, but he began to turn it around in mid-March. In two recent games, Benson went a combined 4-for-6, including a 3-for-4 game (with a walk) against Boston on March 14. "You can see it in the way he's going about his business," Gardenhire told the Star Tribune. "He's confident. Hopefully he can stay that way." Unfortunately for Benson, he followed that up by going 0-for-4 on March 15 against the Red Sox.

C Chris Herrmann was optioned to Triple-A Rochester. Terry Ryan believes Hermann, a 25-year-old who will be used as a catcher and part-time outfielder at Rochester, has some work to do at the plate. "He can play some left field, which he did in the minor leagues, which gives him a better avenue to get up here, and he can certainly catch," Ryan told MLB.com. "He's very athletic, but he just needs to go down and get at-bats. I was hoping he'd come here and really have some success and give us some thoughts because of his versatility, but he still has some work to do."

3B Trevor Plouffe (sore right calf) had an MRI on March 11 that found no major damage other than a strain. Plouffe was to be sideline for only days, rather than weeks as first thought, GM Terry Ryan told the Star Tribune.

RHP Mike Pelfrey followed up an encouraging outing against the Red Sox (three innings, four strikeouts, one walk and two hits) with a rough outing against Boston on March 14. Pelfrey was pulled after two innings in which he gave up five earned runs on five hits, three walks and only two strikeouts.

OF Chris Parmelee (tight right groin) returned to the lineup after being out a week. He played right field against Boston on March 14.

RHP Nick Blackburn (right elbow surgery in October 2012; right wrist surgery in January 2013) was reassigned to the Twins' minor league camp on March 10. Blackburn, 31, went 4-9 with a 7.39 ERA in 19 starts last year. He'll make $5.5 million in 2013, the last season of a four-year contract extension. "It would be great to pitch on the major league level this year," Blackburn told the Star Tribune. "I don't expect to. I'm not ruling it out, but I'm not counting on it. I'm going to work as hard as I can, then whatever happens, once I'm healthy, happens."

RHP Anthony Swarzak (fractured ribs) was improving and moving closer to getting some spring training work. On March 13, Swarzak threw a light bullpen session that was from a shortened distance. It reportedly went well, and Swarzak was to perform a few more sessions, ramping himself up to pitching in some exhibition games.

RHP Samuel Denudo was not in the Twins' camp in mid-March, yet he is trying to make a case to be on the big-league roster in April. Denudo was pitching well at the World Baseball Classic, and on March 14, he helped the Dominican Republic beat the United States to earn a berth in the final round of the WBC. Denudo allowed one run and struck out seven batters in his four innings.

RHP Deolis Guerra returned to the Twins' clubhouse from Puerto Rico on March 7 with an injury that required immediate evaluation. It was determined that he had blood clots in his right (throwing) shoulder and required rib removal surgery. After being put on blood thinner medication to stabilize and dissipate the clots, Guerra was airlifted to a Tampa hospital on March 13 for the surgery, which was due to take place a few later. After some moments of concern, the Twins feel things are headed in the right direction.